HC Deb 13 May 1959 vol 605 cc152-4W
Captain Kerby

asked the Minister of Education what degree of co-operation his representatives have received from the headmaster and staff of the Worthing Technical High School since its opening in 1955; and how many foreign visitors and local education authorities, other than the West Sussex Education Authority, have visited the school since that date.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

The headmaster and staff have been most co-operative. I understand that over 100 foreign visitors and representatives of about 20 local authorities have visited the school since it opened.

Captain Kerby

asked the Minister of Education if he is aware of the proposals of the West Sussex County Education Authority, made within four years of the opening of the Worthing Technical High School in buildings expressly designed by his own architects, to put these buildings to another purpose, to transfer the personnel to yet another new building a relatively short distance away, and, by changing the name of the school, to change its character and objectives; and if he will reject these proposals as not in the educational interests of West Sussex.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

I am aware of these proposals, which my officers expect to discuss shortly with representatives of the West Sussex local education authority and the Worthing Committee for Education.

Captain Kerby

asked the Minister of Education how many mixed secondary technical, technical high, or grammar/technical schools there are in England and Wales having selective entries of 11 plus and full courses, including sixth-form studies at the General Certificate of Education O and A levels, housed in specially-designed buildings opened during the last five years; and how many of these schools there are south of the Thames.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

There are 27 mixed secondary technical or technical high schools, of which the only one south of the Thames is at Worthing. I cannot give the number of grammar schools providing technical courses, since courses are not separately classified in my Department's records.

Captain Kerby

asked the Minister of Education how many schools have been planned and built under the supervision of the Architectural Development Group of his Department; and how many of these provide grammar/technical facilities.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

Seven schools have been completed, of which three provide education of a grammar or technical type. Four more are in the planning stages or under construction, of which two provide education of a grammar or technical type.

Captain Kerby

asked the Minister of Education what time was spent in planing the Worthing Technical High School; how many of his Department's experts and architects were consulted; what was the total cost of planning to his Department; and what was the amount paid to his Department by the West Sussex local education authority as the architect's fee.

Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd

The planning took about twenty months. Seven architects and four quantity surveyors were employed at different times for varying periods. It is not possible to give information about the other, mainly non-professional staff, concerned, or to assess the full cost of planning. The architects' fee was £9,010 11s. 6d.